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Show I 4 WEEKLY REFLEX-OA- VIS ; I t NEWS JOURNAL, NORTH DAVIS LEADER, JUNE 10, 1982 Chances Slim By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON - The Davis County Board of Health was expected to discuss the proposed ordinance that would impose inspection fees on restaurants, Tuesday. I THE PROPOSAL has brought vocal opposition from rasini TOli ilrw By MARK D. MICKELSEN - NORTH SALT LAKE North Salt Lake residents concerned over reports that a satellite prison may be built in their community need not worry, according to city and county officials. THE CHANCES of a prison being built in North Salt Lake are practically nonexistent," Davis County Com. Harry B. Gerlach told a handful of residents at a city council meeting last week. He said county leaders met with state prison officials recently to discuss the criteria for choosing a prison site. One of the people told me, Com. Gerlach said, that the key site up for consideration is still in Box Elder County, near Willard Bay. I have he added, HOWEVER, learned in my short political career not to count on anjrthing. North Salt Lake Mayor Robert Palm-quisaid Gov. Scott Matheson has suggested that the satellite prison be built in Provo, on the site of an old asylum for the st retarded. THE GOVERNOR guaranteed in a recent meeting that the prison will not be built in Davis County, the mayor said. Mayor Palmquist added that both city and county officials have spoken out against any plan which would require the construction of a prison in the western North Salt Lake area. REPORTS FROM the State Corrections Bureau earlier this year pinpointed a piece of ground along Redwood Road in North Salt Lake as a potential site for the -maximum security facility. Com. Gerlach said there is a definite water problem associated with the North Salt Lake site and said state officials have some concerns about it. minimum- THE PRISON, if constructed, would house approximately 288 prisoners. The satellite concept is being spearheaded by corrections officials who want to relieve overcrowding at the state penitentiary near the North Davis Chamber of Commerce Association and Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce as well as Utah Restaurant Association, with those groups saying it would add economic hardship to businesses with a slim profit margin suffering, along with other businesses, in a tight economy. The health department has said such a fee, ranging from 0 depending on the number of service bays and seating capacity, is necessary to help offset the cost for the quarterly inspections that Environmental Health Director Richard Harvey says costs about $50,000 a year, including expense of IV staff inspectors. $80-$20- HERSH IPAKTCHIAN, chairman of the North Davis Chamber board and Utah Restaurant Association, said the URA helped draft a new health law that gives local health dpartments authority to impose fees, something the URA officials apparently werent aware of. The restaurant industry is regulated by every government agency, he said, naming agricultural, health, fire and Our empolice agencies. ployees have to have food handlers permits. BUT WITH 70 percent of restaurant employees between 0 years of age, theyll do what the boss says, not what it says on a test. He said the URA proposed mandating a two week training period for managers where they would then be required to train their employees. I called some restaurants in Davis County and found that over 70 percent dont enforce (obtaining food handlers permits), Mr. Ipaktchian continued, complaining about lack of enforcing standards in giving the test, citing a case where one applicant missed ten questions, double the amount allowed, but was still given the permit. (RICHARD E.)Harvey says we need $20,000 so we need money from (the proposed fee), Mr. Ipaktchian ontinued. I hate that state-- i tent. Weve all had to tighten ( jr belts that bothers me. I ji st really get upset at this n ethod. Noting Mr. Harvey had indies ted fees were required for in-seting septic tank placement at i swimming pools, for inst-x, he said, I asked him w en the last time was that a se 'tic tank paid property and sa ;s tax. The restaurants pay taAes to support the county. HE SAID State Senator had Haven Barlow, 16-2- sj ai Public Meet On July 8 To Air Restaurant Fee FARMINGTO- N- Restaurant owners and managers will have their chance to discuss the proposed food service fee schedule that would assess restaurants to pay for annual inspections in a public hearing set for July 8 at 7 p.m. in the county commission chambers in Farmington. mit regulation, theyll get their money, Mr. Ipaktchian said, health board, with Mr. $90,000 yearly potential was disputed in a letter from Mr. Harvey. The objective ought to be to get behind the health food handlers permit to solve the problem," Mr. Starks said. Eberhard, who also sits on the Eberhard indicating services provided by the county are either essential or considered a luxury. If theyre essential, the bill should be paid out of the general county fund. Should those who use the fire department or police pay more than others? he asked. I dont see why we have to impose another fee on restaurants. If they need more money, they should do a better job with what theyre supposed to do. If I have to tighten my belt as a businessman or as a mayor (referring to several mayors at the chamber meeting), I cant just say I want $20 000. SPEAKING of the inspec- tions Mr. Ipaktchian said, We look at them as a pain in the rear. Every six months they come and nitpick, just to earn their pay. Nine out of ten times theyre young kids, just out of college and we never get the same one twice. Gayle Stark, Clearfield city manager, emphasized the need for health services, noting, There are a lot of restaurant operations that if there wasnt a health department, would be serving pig slop. You cant tell whats going on in the kitchen, he added, indicating agreement that a regulation merely to gain extra revenues isnt necessary. IT THINK if theyll enforce their food handlers per although an estimate of IN A May 15 letter to Mr. Harvey from the North Davis Chamber it said, The association objects strongly that restaurants will be asked to pay a special permit fee to subsidize quarterly health inspections. Our main concern is that the g in county is out businesses in order to pay the cost of local government. In a May 19 letter from the health department, Mr. Harshort-sight- sign-tin- vey noted similar fees are under consideration elsewhere in the state. Citing numerous other fees already charged it added, If anything, the fee situation has been overly lenient with the food service in- dustry." IT ADDED the $6,000 currently collected for food handlers permits barely pays for administration, noting about $53,000 is needed to administer inspections. At about $133 establishment a year, would be generated, or d the cost of the about program, with other health one-thir- programs charging up to $250. In a May 26 North Davis response Mr. Ipaktchian indicated, You might not be the first to impose such fees, but are you right in doing so? The mere fact your department investigating properly is no reason to pile on an extra fundraising device. You need another $20,000. Either procur it through the available system isnt you have or decrease your spending. Davis County businessmen do that constantly and those what don't are soon out of business. WHILE AGREEING inspections are necessary and the letter said, "government should be expected to provide for essential services. I must admit the current inspection techniques do not fulfill your expectations. If you admittedly are having difficulty insuring that workers have food handlers permits, then is your sys- tem really protecting the public? In a letter condemining the proposal from the Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce also dated May 26, it was noted that a recent business study of the county indicated 58 percent of all businesses made no profit at all while another 17 percent made less than $20,000 a year. THIS SEEMS to be a true indicator of the condition of business in the current economy, and governmental units are finding they too are experiencing these kinds of problems, the letter continued, noting it seemed ironic to propose a tax on businesses that are trying to recover. 0 By MARK D. MICKELSEN Davis FARMINGTON County Sheriff Brant Johnson By TOM BUSSELBERG written a letter to County Com. Chairman Ernest said Friday Congressman Jim has begun an Hansen, investigation into reports that Weber Basin Job Corp students are creating some problems in residential areas of South Weber. SHERIFF JOHNSON, who wrote the congressman in May asking for some assistance on the problem, said residents are worried about Job Corp stu- dents roaming around their homes and creating havoc in their neighborhoods. Although he said he has nothing against the Job Corp center, Sheriff Johnson said he is responding to citizens in the South Weber area who are recommending that I do some thing. IN HIS letter to Congressman Hansen, the sheriff said he asked the politician to evaluate the situation. He recommended that WBJC officials be required to either fence the center, or hire additional staff members to monitor student activities. Because of the impacts of the problems on the criminal justice system, the sheriff said he felt it was time for a congressional study. HE SAID charges ranging from homocide to assault and burglary have been filed against students of the center since 1978. Yearly arrest records tied to students of the center have ranged from 30 in 1978 to 53 in 1980 to 24 as of the end of May, 1982. The number of complaints filed against Job Corp students has fluctuated from 56 in 1978 to 85 in 1980 to 29 as of the end of May, 1982, he said. SHERIFF JOHNSON South Weber residents and some Job Corp workers. He said the congressman is trying to determine whether or not to hold a public meeting with residents of the area to discuss the problem. said staff members working for Congressman Hansen have already begun interviewing law enforcement officers. MEMBERS OF the South Weber City Council have also endorsed the congressional THAT DECISION came during Tuesday mornings monthly health board meeting where it was also voted to approve laying off two employees as part of the funding cutback for the ' vehicle inspection and maintenance program. .y In setting the public hearing, officials agreed they wanted to continue the program, even on a reduced basis that Environmental Health Director Richard Harvey said would cost about $3,500 annually. , ; REFERRING TO a meeting held with restaurant association representatives last week, he said they proposed a fee schedule based on employees per establishment vs. the fee per service bay plus a certain amount per seat that has been mentioned. Under the seats proposal, about $80 per restaurant might be per restaurant fee could be gained while a $39-$5- 0 obtained by employee assessment. He noted lowering the per seat charge from $1 to 50 cents while keeping the $20 per service bay would generate about 40 percent less revenue, but Mr. Harvey indicated direction is needed from the board. AN AVERAGE 3.32 inspections per restaurant are conducted each year and 2.21 forbars, with the odd number based on need to return for additional inspections to some places. Board Chairman Daniel Benton noted some establishments do t have seating for one person and added he felt basing the fee on number of employees was better. An Orem nurse and a Davis High School anatomy and physiology class have been honored by the Utah Public Health Association (UPHA) during their annual meeting. JUNE LEIFSON, R.N., PhD, received the prestigious Beatty Award and Davis High School received the Seventh Surety Life award. This award was given for student initiatives in public health. The 52 students in Dr. Tim Hunts class conducted a survey in nine communities in Davis County on peoples awareness of the relationship preferences in children. A total of 968 families were contracted and the results tabulated. FAMILIES WITH smokers in the household were 33 percent of the total contracted. Of these, 59 percent of the children were picky eaters and 4 percent were aware of the evidence linking eating habits to smoke exposure. The families were 67 percent of the total contacted. Of this group, 32 percent of the children were picky eaters and 16 percent of these were aware of the evi dence linking smoke exposure to eating habits. THE SURVEY was based on an article in Science News which postulated that infants are particularly sensitive to cigarette smoke and the nico- tine probably stays in an infants body longer. This can cause nausea when they are exposed to even small doses. If cigarette smoke is present at the time or even several hours after the infant has tried a new food, the child may subconsciously associate the food with the feelings of nausea and reject that food in the future. Gets THERE WILL be some inequitites, Mr. Hare vey explained, explaining a possible $4 per 20-3-4 and $1 for part-tim- e $2 hours those employee, hours per week average. That would working generate about $40 per business and looks fairly Drive was published in the of metaphor, a WSC magazine. Since starting as a freshman show has accumulated over 300 credit hours in college. She was recently in full-tim- equitable. Emphasizing the need for the fee County Com. Chairman Ernest Eberhard said, The economic crunch hasnt hit us yet. Using Alameda County, Calif., where Oaklands located, he noted their police costs had suffered a $17 million shortball and added local governments will have to foot a $544 d bill the federal government million doesnt want to finance. I SAY people who use restaurants ought to pay for it (inspections). It shouldnt come out of the property tax. Weve got to follow (fees) if well be able to fund the mandated, required services, Mr. Eberhard emphasized. Speaking against the fee was Ronald Morgan of Kaysville, who said he was representing the Utah Restaurant Assoc. He is executive direction of the Layton Chamber of Commerce. We feel youre (health dept.) not giving us (restaurants) the service. If we were receiving it wed be willing to pay. We feel you should pay for this out of the general fund. I THINK all youre doing is trying to live up to the state law. I dont think its fair to say to a specific pay for industry, Were coming to inspect you-y- ou raise or taxes have it. If you dont enough money, for be would fees if charged cut programs, asking those using the police department. between smoking and food 1982 edition the One Act Play Festival sponsored by the WS drama department. MRS. WALKER is a member of the Kays Creek Chapter of Utah Writers League and has spent countless hours giv ing programs and readings to numerous church and civic organizations. She has performed lead rolls the past six years in the Kaysville Heritage Harvest musical productions held at the outdoor summer park, Happy Hollow Golf Course. She and her husband, Verl A. Walker, are parents of three daughters and grandparents of seven, np By MARK D. MICKELSEN NORTH SALT LAKE Ten years ago, the words redevelopment agency were understandably foreign to most Utahns. BUT TIMES have changed. In Davis County alone, Bountiful, Kaysville and Layton have implemented programs designed to take care of urban blight, to redevelop their cities, to add to a dwindling tax base. There is growing concern among Davis County officials however, that taxpayers outside the cities being redeveloped are unknowingly picking up a sizeable portion of the tab. THE RESULT is a mad rush among the remaining cities to become involved in the redevelopment process. And that has county leaders worried. Davis County Com. Harry B. Gerlach, speaking at a North Salt Lake City Council meeting last week, said county officials support the redevelopment concept, but are concerned over reports that communities are using the money for purposes outside the intent of the law. alien-relate- We all breathe the same air but we dont all use restaurants, Com. Eberhard said. "That (taking out of general fund) makes it (restaurant inspection) a recessive tax. AND HEALTH Director Enrico Leopardi said, "Health departments provide the food establishments with a service. Every restaurant is a beneficiincluding chance to educate that prevent such potenneeds health to employees tial epidemic problems as salmonella. ary of the service, Laytonite Buys DOROTHA WALKER KAYSVILLE Dorotha Walker, throughout the area for her drama and reading skills, has received her bachelor of arts in theater degree from WSC. This is the well-know- n third degree that she has obtained from the college in the past 13 years. She also has a nursing degree and a bachelor of arts degree in speech. MRS. WALKER was hon- ored last week as the Outstanding Student Achiever in Theater during a luncheon held in the WSC Skyroom hosted for the students in the School of Humanities. She has compiled her Memoirs of Life on a Farm in an oral reading and received college credit for her work. Her article "The Camel Kays. Theatre Joe Cuculich of Layton has purchased the Kaysville Theater from MBCH of Ogden and will take over operation June 25. HE SAID nothing will change as he plans to run the theater as it has been in the past with the same ratings of movies and the same ticket price ($1 a seat). He is pleased with the purchase and is looking forward to serving the people of the community. Cia Nielsen who managed the theater for three months prior to leasing the building for the past IVi years said he feels Mr. Cuculich will do a good service to the community and hope the people will continue to support him as they have me in the past. I wish him much success in his new business. My wife and I have enjoyed running the theater and the association with the people of Kaysville. It is a great community and we need good entertainment and the theater is a excellent source of family entertainment. Mr. Nielsen added, np THE IDEA of redevelopment is to clean up extremely blighted areas so that the city, as well as the county, will benefit from an increased tax base. The commissioner said he was disturbed to learn that some city officials felt redevelopment funds were easy money, free for the taking. Theres no such thing. Its people who pay taxes." HE EMPHASIZED the need for some redirection in the laws pertaining to redevelopment and said the county will work with state legislators to push the changes through. Com. Gerlach, who said he watched his home town die from a lack of development, cautioned cities pondering redevelopment to make sure that the areas being considered are blighted." Think very seriously about it, he told North Salt Lake officials, who are toying with the idea of redeIf you think you legally compvelopment. ly with the intent of the law, it is up to you whether you go with it (redevelopment agency) or not. HE COMPLAINED that the influx of more and more redevelopment agencies will only add to increasing tax rates and government bureacracy. He targeted Bountifiils redevelopment agency as an example, saying of the more than $344,000 set aside last year, 37 percent was taken away from the school district. He said the remaining 63 percent had to come from another source namely neighboring cities and towns. A CERTAIN amount of Bountifuls redevelopment expenditures had to be paid for out of the general fund, he said, adding that the result was that Bountiful had to increase its mill levy. Any government entity, in order to grow and expand, has to have growth, the commissioner said. IF DAVIS County has four percent growth up to the year 1990, he explained, the school district alone will lose $1.2 million and residents will be taxed for the loss. So you see, he said, redevelopment tax dollars are not free. People pay taxes. COM. GERLACH said people complained noisily several years ago when state and federal officials introduced the concept of regional government. With the redevelopment process, you have formed another level of bureacracy," he said. This is the danger. The county is not against redevelopment if city plans remain within the intent of the law, Gerlach reiterated, adding, we feel there should be some way to make changes so that property doesnt remain on the tax rolls forever. ACCORDING to a Utah Supreme Court decision, Gerlach said, the redevelopment process is constitutional, but the community must be able to prove blight." Any Davis County community considering the formation of a redevelopment agency will have to prove blight, Gerlach said, or face a possible court battle with the county. ASKED IF the county plans to take each city to court based on the Supreme Court decision, Com. Gerlach was optimistic. He said a friendly suit is a possibility only to insure that the courts set some criteria, or a precedent for future redevelopment problems. North Salt Lake Mayor Robert Palmquist said his community is still looking for information on the redevelopment concept. An area west of Highway-89- , near the old stockyards and Cudahy Lane, has been set aside by the city as a potential redevelopment zone. COM. GERLACH said North Salt Lake has proven that blighted conditions do exist in the community and therefore, falls under the intent of the law. The cities of Woods Cross, Clearfield and Fruit Heights are also considering redevelopment agencies. |